Important Judgments And Convictions

In 1951 AnnamuthuPadayatchi of Sivapuram, Thanjavur unearthed 6 idols viz., Natarajar, Thirugnanasambandar, Somaskandar, Pillaiar and two Amman from his field.

The Collector of Thanjavur, handed over the 6 idols to the temple authorities
of Sri Sivagurunathasamy Temple of Sivapuram as per G.O.Ms.No.
2987/Revenue Department dated 29.10.1953.

The trustees of the temple wanted to repair the idols and this work was
entrusted to RamasamySthapathy of Kumbakonam in the year June 1954.

In
the year 1956 Thilakar of Kuttalam and his brother Doss induced RamasamySthapathy to part with the original Natarajar and 5 other idols and to substitute the
same with fake idols. Thilakar dispatched the
original Natarajar idol to Lance Dane of
Bombay
, an Art Collector, arranged by Doss who
kept the idol for 10 years and sold it to BommanBeharan of
Bombay
who in turn sold it to Menu Narang. Benn Haller of
New York
bought it for 6 Lakhs rupees in 1969 and sold it to Norton Simon
Foundation for USD .9 Lakhs

Dr.DouglassBarret of
British museum, in his book on ‘South Indian Bronze’ mentioned that the Natarajar idol in Sivapuram was a fake one and the original was with a private Art Collector. Tr.P.R.Srinivasan (curator of the Museum) alerted
the Director of Museum and the Government of TamilNadu.
An enquiry conducted on this resulted in registration of a case in Natchiarkoil P.S.Cr.No.109/69 U/S 406 IPC. The Crime Branch C.I.D took up the
investigation.

A
special party arrested Lance Dane, Thilakar,
Doss, RamasamySthapathy. Tr. S. Krishnaraj,
the then D.I.G, CB-CID, TamilNadu visited
United States
and gathered evidence as to smuggling of the Idol. The Scotland Yard
found that the Natarajar was sent to Mrs.AnnaPlowden of
London
by Norton
Simon Foundation for repairs as the idol developed corrosion and
impounded it.

The
Government of India filed a civil suit against the Norton Simon
Foundation in
England
,
New York
and Los Angles claiming the Natarajar Idol. Thiru.K.K.Rajasekaran Nair, I.P.S, I.G.P (Crime),
Madras
sent a
letter to the Government of TamilNadu to
request the Ministry of External Affairs to get the Idol back. Dr.M.S.NagarajaRao,
Director-General, Archaeological Survey of India, NewDelhi got the Idol from the Indian Embassy, Washington and now the Idol is in
the safe vault of Kabaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai.

All
accused arrested and convicted. There is no information about the
remaining idols

SivapuramNatarajar

Similarly in Koradachery P.S.Cr.No.323/1976,
a Natarajar metal Idol belonging to Sri Viswanathasamy Temple, Pathur, Thanjavur District was smuggled out of India
and was in the possession of Bumper Development Corporation of U.S.A, a
giant Oil Corporation, who purchased it for 2.5 Lakhs dollars. The Idol was sent to
London
for curing the metal decease, where it was seized by the Scotland Yard.
We won the major point in this unique case that the Natarajar Idol is a juristic person and that it can and can be sued. It has also
been conceded that a
HinduTemple
can
establish its rights in a British court. The Natarajar Idol was brought back to
India
and the same was kept
in the Icon Preservation Centre at Tiruvarur.
The accused concerned in this case are arrested and convicted.